Folding box



p 9, 1941- s. LIGHTER 2,255,223

FOLDING BOX Filed Sept. 22, 1939 Patented Sept.,9, 1941 UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE ro fifiox- 1 Stephen Lighter, Chicago, 111. 7 Application September 22, 1939, Serial No. 296,017

.12 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of packaging diverse commodities, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of folding boxes formed of sheet material such as cardboard or the like.

Generally defined, an object of my present invention is to provide a new and useful folding box which is simple in construction and efiicient in operation.

Some of the more specific objects of the invention are as follows:

To provide an improved carton which may be collapsed into fiat formation, and which can be quickly and conveniently distended for loading purposes.

To provide a collapsible box assemblage which may be economically manufactured with minimum waste of stock, and can therefore be sold at extremely moderate cost.

To provide an improved receptacle-which may be produced in various sizes from sheet material such as paper stock, and which may be assembled from a single unitary blank to produce a structure in which none of the outer walls are cut, scored or perforated.

To provide an improved knock-down container which may be distended from knock-down condition by merely applying spreading pressure to the two opposite side walls, and which will automatically assume such distended position upon release of the spreading force.

To provide an improved paper carton which may be produced from relatively thin and inexpensive stock, and which is relatively strong and durable and capable of resisting comparatively high external pressures.

To provide a folding box formed of a one-piece blank and having an improved corner construction whereby the assembled boxes will permit superimposed loading or stacking without danger of collapse.

To provide an improved cardboard receptacle which may be made with the aid of punches, dies and automatic machinery, and which when distended and closed provides a proper sealed enclosure.

These and other specific objects and advantages of my present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the various features constituting the present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing folding boxes made in accordance with the improvenate the same or similar parts in the various.

views.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank which may v be used in producing one type of my improved folding box, one of the side portions of the blank having been folded over the bottom and end walls, and adhesively attached at the corners;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a box formed from a blank of the type shown in Fig. 1, showing the same initially distended preparatory to loading;

Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the box depicted in Fig. 2, showing the assemblage about to be finally closed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the box of Figs. 2 and 3, the section having been taken along a vertical plane disposed parallel to the cover hinge line; and

Fig. 5 is a fragment of a collapsed box of modified construction.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as having been embodied in a cardboard box of specific shape and dimensions, it is not my intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement, which has actually been successfully embodied in folding boxes of various shapes and sizes useful for diverse purposes.

Referring to the drawing, and especially to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the improved folding box illustrated therein may be produced from a onepiece cardboard blank or the like, such as shown in Fig. 1, and this blank comprises a bottom 8 of rectangular shape having side walls 9 and end walls l0 foldably connected thereto along score lines ll, l2, respectively; square corner sections l3 foldably connected to the adjacent side and end walls 9, l0 along continuations ll', l2 of the score lines I I, I2, and each having a diagonal fold line If and a curved slit l5 forming a tab IS; a cover ll foldably connected to one of the end walls l0 along a score line l8 and having opposite side flaps l9 foldable along score lines 20; and a flap 2| foldably connected to the other end wall Ill along a store line 22. The areas 23 of the square corner sections 63, which adjoin the end walls Ill, are

preferably completely or locally surfaced with adhesive, so that when these corner sections l3 are folded over and pressed against the end walls H) as shown at the bottom of Fig. 1, the sections ment, may be had by referring to the drawing I3 and walls will be firmly united at the areas 23. The tabs i6 which interrupt the fold lines ll, may be disposed either near the bottom 8 as shown in Fig. 1, or they may be spaced some distance from the bottom 8; and these tabs are preferably formed as arcs having radii 24 approximately equal to the overall tab lengths, as shown at the upper left hand corner of Fig. 1.

When the box blank has been properly formed and the corner areas 23 have been firmly and permanently secured to the adjacent end walls H], the collapsed structure will normally lie fiat and the cover I1 and flap 2i may then be folded over the bottom 8 and side and end walls 9. l so as to occupy minimum space for stacking. storage or shipment to the user. In order to initially distend each box for loading, as shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to apply the hands to the inner faces of the collapsed side walls 3, and to exert a sudden outward and upward pull on both I of the walls 9 simultaneously. With suchpressure applied, the side walls 9 will swing upwardly from the bottom about the score lines II; and by virtue of their attachment to the end walls l0 through the corner sections l3, the rising side walls 9 will simultaneously swing the two end walls In upwardly and toward the bottom 8 about the score lines l2. The flexible and resilient tabs l6 will then-snap away from the glued areas 23 past the diagonal score lines It and into coaction with the inner faces of the adjacent end walls In as shown in Fig. 2, and will thus effectively retain the box in initially distended condition ready for convenient loading. After the commodity which is to be packed has been inserted within the box, the flap 2| may be folded inwardly over the charge along the score line 22, and the cover 11 may thereafter be folded inwardly along the fold line 18. The side flaps IQ of the cover I] may be folded inwardly and inserted within the side walls 9 as shown in Fig. 3, and the assemblage may thereafter be completely closed and sealed as illustrated in Fig. 4. By reversing the several operations, the folding box may be just as readily restored to its initial folded condition, and during collapsing of the carton, the tongues or tabs I6 will spring back into the plane of the glued portions of the corner sections l3 as shown at the bottom of Fig. 1.

When light cardboard is used to form the box blank, it is preferable to adhesively attach the entire areas 23 directly to the end walls Ill as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, but when heavier sheet stock is utilized, the areas 23 may be merely spot glued, or the recessed triangle of each sec tion l3 may be attached to the adjacent cover I! and flap 2| instead of to the adjacent end walls i0. Such modification is shown in. Fig. 5, wherein the corner section 13 has a diagonal fold line it and a tongue or tab IS. The triangular portion 23' of the corner section i3 is provided with a tongue 25 which is adhesively firmly attached to the cover I1, and all of the four corners of the box would preferably be of like construction. At the end of the box remote from the cover II, the tongues 25 would naturally be secured to the flap 2 I, and the inner faces of the comer portions 23' while snugly engaging the end walls H) are not attached directly to these walls in the modified assemblage. The operation of the modified structure both during distension and while being collapsed, is the same as that above described.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of my improvement, it will be apparent that the invention provides a new and useful folding box assemblage which is simple and compact in construction and which may be readily distended and collapsed. The improved box may be quickly and conveniently expanded from flattened condition to initially distended loading position as shown in Fig. 2, by a simple parting motion of the opeprator's hands, and the flexible and resilient tabs it become automatically effective to hold the box structure in expanded condition. When the cover of the box is finally closed and sealed, either by applying adhesive between the cover edge and the flap 2 I, or by applying binding tape or adhesive strip over the sides of the cover, the four corners of the receptacle are effectively reinforced by the folded corner sections i3, and by the cover side fiaps l9, thus effectively resisting external pressures and permitting superimposed stacking'of the closed boxes without danger of collapse thereof. It is also noteworthy that my improved formation of the box blank, precludes the existence of perforations or slits in the outer side and end walls, and in the top and bottom of the box, whereby the structure might be weakened and the contents of the box would be made accessible without opening the receptacle. The improved blank may obvious be readily manufactured with the aid of punches, dies and ordinary box making.

machinery, with minimum waste of sheet stock, and can be produced of various thicknesses and kinds of paper stock at extremely moderate cost. My improved folding boxes have proven highly successful in actual use for packaging diverse commodities and when made in various sizes and shapes, and are quickly collapsible and distended with minimum effort.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of opera ion, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may ocour to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a bottom having side and end walls foldable upwardly therefrom, and a corner section hingedly connecting the adjacent portions of each side and end wall, each corner section being foldable upon itself along a diagonal line dividing the same into hingedly connected complementary portions, and one of said portions of each corner section being permanently attached in surface engagement with the adjoining wall while the complementary portion has an integral tab projecting outwardly beyond the diagonal line.

In combination, a bottom having side and end walls foldable upwardly therefrom, and a square corner section connecting each end of each side wall with the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall, each corner section being foldable upon itself along a diagonal line dividing the same into foldably connected complementary triangles, and one of said triangles of each corner section being permanently attached in surface engagement with the adjoining wall while the complementary triangle has an integral resilient tab projecting outwardly beyond the diagonal fold line.

3. In combination, a bottom having side and end walls foldable upwardly therefrom, and a rectangular comer section connecting each end of each side wall with the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall, each corner section being foldable upon itself along a diagonal fold line extending outwardly away from said bottom and dividing the section into two complementary triwith the adjacent end wall, an integral angles, and one of said section being permanently attached in surface engagement with the adjoining wall while the complementary triangle has an integral resilient' tab projecting outwardly beyond the diagonal fold line.

4. In combination, and end walls foldable upwardly therefrom, said side walls being disposed over said bottomand said end walls being located outwardly in the plane of said bottom when the box is collapsed, and a corner section foldably connecting each end of each side wall with the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall, each corner section beingfoldable upon itself along a diagonal line dividing the same into hingedly connected complementary portions, one of said portions of each corner section being permanently attached throughout its entire area with the adjoining wall while the complementary portion has an integral tab projecting outwardly beyond the diagonal line.

5. In combination, a and end walls foldable upwardly therefrom, said side walls being disposed over said bottom and said end walls being located outwardly in the plane of said bottom when the box is collapsed, and a corner section foldably connecting each end of each side wall with the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall, each corner section being foldable upon itself along a diagonal thereof extending away from a corner of said bottom and dividing the section into two complementary hingedly connected portions, one of said portions of each corner section being permanently attached throughout its entire area with the adjoining wall while the complementary portion has an integral flexible tab projecting outwardly beyond the diagonal fold line.

6. In combination, a box formed of a unitary blank having a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, and a corner section hingedly connected to each end of each side wall and to the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall, each of said corner sections being foldable upon itself along a diagonal. thereof and having the portion thereof on one side of said diagonal firmly positioned in surface engagement with the adjacent end wall, and an integral tab formed on the other portion of each corner section and projecting beyond the diagonal fold line thereof.

7. In combination, a box blank having a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, a corner section hingedly connected to each end of each side wall and to the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall, each of said corner sections being foldable upon itself along a diagonal thereof and having the portion thereof on one side of said diagonal firmly positioned in surface engagement tab formed on the other portion of each corner section and projecting beyond the diagonal fold line thereof, and a cover hingedly connected to 8. In combination, a box formed of a unitary blank having a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, and a corone of said end walls.

triangles of each corner,

a box bottom having side formed of a unitary box bottom having side a the section into two ner section hingedly connected to'each end of thereof extending away from a corner of the bottom and having the portion thereof on one side of the diagonal fold line firmly secured to the adjacent end wall, and an integral tab formed on the other portion of each corner section and projecting beyond the diagonal fold line thereof.

9. In combination, a box formed of a unitary blank having a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, a corner section hingedly connected to each end of each side wall and to the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall, each of said corner sections being foldable upon itself along adiagonal thereof extending away from a corner of the bottom and having the portion thereof on one side of the diagonal line of fold firmly secured to the adjacent end wall, an integral tab formed, on the other portion of each corner section and projecting beyond the diagonal fold line thereof, and a cover hingedly connected to one of said end walls.

10. In combination, a bottom having side and end walls foldable upwardly therefrom, and an approximately rectangular corner section hingedly connecting the adjacent ends of each side and end wall, each of said sections being foldable upon itself along a diagonal line dividing adjoining triangles, and one of said triangles being permanently secured in surface engagement with the adjacent wall while the complementary triangle has an integral deflect'able tab projecting outwardly away from its diagonal bounding line 11. In combination, a rectangular bottom having side and end walls foldable upwardly there'- froin, and an approximately rectangular corner section hingedly connecting the adjacent ends of each side and end wall, each of said sections being foldable upon itself along a diagonal line extending away from the adjacent corner of the bottom and dividing the section into two complementary triangles, and one of said triangles being permanently secured in surface engagement with the adjacent wall while the complementary triangle has an integral resilient tab projecting outwardly away from its diagonal bounding line.

12. In combination, a box bottom having side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and a cover flap hingedly connected to one of said end walls, a corner section hingedly. connected to each sidewall and to the adjacent side of the adjacent end wall. each of said corner sections being foldabie upon itself along a diagonal thereof and having the portion on one side of said diagonal firmly positioned in surface engagement with the adjacent end wall, an extension formed integral with said firmly positioned corner portion of one of said corner sections and being secured to the adjacent cover flap, and an integral tab formed on the other portion of each corner section and projecting beyond the dinonal-iold line thereof. I

STEPHEN LIGHTER. 

